Parenting a child who has low self-esteem is tough. Many parents I talk to blame themselves, their child’s peers and in many cases even the child (Empowering Kids to Deal With Bullies and Low Self-Esteem). The problem is that helping a teen or child who has low self-esteem is a puzzle, but there are some important pieces that can make a big change in their lives.

As parents, it can be challenging to help your child with their self-confidence and self-esteem. You can’t control the world they live in once they leave your care. School stress, peer problems and working with other adults can impact their self-esteem. There will be many cases in which other people or circumstances will make your child feel bad and bring their confidence down. You can help your child develop strong self-esteem by adjusting your parenting style.

I talk to parents about technology on a daily basis, and it’s a problem. Many parents are years behind the times and tend to give into the technology that their teen or tween is begging for. Technology can be great, but without proper guidance and supervision from parents, it can turn dangerous, even deadly. Don’t be the parent who get’s snowed by their technologically savvy teen, get empowered and feel confident.

Low self-esteem in teenage girls isn’t just a phase, it can be a sign of depression. You can blame hormones, blame the media, blame whatever you want but don’t ignore the signs and causes of teenage depression. So many professionals and parents still don’t have the mental health awareness to see that teen depression is a big deal, especially in girls. The more people brush it off as “just part of being a teenage girl” or say, “she’s just insecure,” the more dangerous it becomes.

“Schools out for summer,” well, almost. I have had the Alice Cooper song stuck in my head as the calls and emails from concerned parents have been flooding in. As the end of the school year comes to a close, children face many emotions that can take a toll on their confidence. Both children and adolescents alike can experience anxiety and a drop in self-confidence around the end of the school year.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week has begun, and another brave young woman has stepped into the spotlight to raise awareness and share her personal struggle. Paulina Pinsky, the daughter of Dr. Drew Pinsky has opened up about her seven-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. Her authentic story is an example of how many factors contribute to an eating disorder. We know self-esteem and environmental factors impact the onset of an eating disorder.

A child’s self-esteem is being shaped by every interaction he or she has. How children see themselves will influence their education, relationships and overall well-being. Life is often about feeling competent and accepted, their outer world doesn’t always mirror this. The unconditional acceptance at home, from parents, is the catalyst for successful self-esteem in your child.

Many parents make mistakes when attempting to soothe or console their children. Rather than building their self-esteem, they hinder it. The long-term effects include the child either feeling invalidated or the child doesn’t develop the skills needed to handle certain situations as adults.

In the self-esteem video below, you’ll discover what to say when soothing a child and how to say it. It is an easy skill to learn.

The summer is the perfect time for relaxing, recharging from the hectic school year and is an opportunity to help build self-esteem in children. The activities families are already engaging in can be used as tools for building self-esteem in children, thus enhancing their sense of self and identity. Although we strive to help our kids feel their best every day, even during the busy school year, the summer lends itself to calmer schedules and more one-on-one time with your child or teenager. This the perfect set up for helping your child develop confidence and awareness of where they are on the self-esteem scale.

Self-esteem in children is such an important issue. After all, childhood is full of experiences that can help or hinder one’s self-esteem as an adult. It is the foundation for the metaphorical “house” we live in as our adult selves. Too many unresolved cracks can attribute to insecurity as adults.

Many situations with peers, academics, and stress affect a child’s self-esteem and can contribute to how a child see’s him/herself in the future. It is impossible for parents to be there every step of the way, however there is certain language, questions and ways of acting that can help build self-assurance, confidence and a healthy self-esteem in your child. When parents use the right skills, it also enhances the relationship with their child in terms of the child’s trust and communication with the parent throughout adolescence. When parents use tools that the child feels are invalidating, the opposite occurs.